William Moennig III

[Freiabereinsam]

Is anyone familiar with his work? I can’t find much online and there’s nothing on Tarisio other than: 

William Moennig trained in Mittenwald with L. Aschaeur and with A. Dieudonne in Mirecourt. He later apprenticed to P. Vidoudez in Geneva and M. Moller in Amsterdam. He worked as a maker and restorer, taking over the family business in 1975. He was an extremely gifted maker, repairer, and connoisseur. He was a founding member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers. His new work was sadly rare, due to business obligations. 
 

[Dwight Brown]

I guess I know him mostly as a dealer.

DLB

[duane88]

I remember ,many years ago, meeting Paul Coletti. He was, at that time, playing a Wm Moennig III viola. I don't recall seeing another instrument by him.

[Dwight Brown]

William Primrose owned and played a viola by William Moennig but It may not have been William III (I don't think so)He used it to record Harold in Italy.

DLB

[Altgeiger]

Primrose had one and used it for one of his Harold in Italie recordings. 

[Dwight Brown]

William Moennig III would only have been about 20 in 1950 when Primrose bought that viola.  I think it may have been William Hermann Moennig II but I don't know.  Primrose's viola is as far as I know labeled William Primrose JR.  Which would be William Hermann Moennig II.  Mr. Primrose was my teacher's teacher but I never met him and I really don't have any first hand knowledge.

DLB

[Freiabereinsam]

Thanks for the info chaps! I saw a nice violin by William III and was wondering whether his work was known. It’s been hard to find any pictures of his work! Odd!

[MANFIO]

2 hours ago, Dwight Brown said:

William Primrose owned and played a viola by William Moennig but It may not have been William III (I don't think so)He used it to record Harold in Italy.

DLB

This viola is in Sao Paulo city, played by Peter Pass, with documents, etc, made by Moennig, I know this viola. 

[Altgeiger]

2 hours ago, Dwight Brown said:

William Moennig III would only have been about 20 in 1950 when Primrose bought that viola.

Am article about the instrument from that time referred to him as "young Bill Moennig", which I assumed meant III, unless there was a pretty charitable reporter.

[Freiabereinsam]

The Moennig III violin I’m looking at is from 55 and is a pretty nice fiddle so perhaps he was making 5 years earlier too. 

[deans]

Maybe contact Fred Oster, he should know who produced what. He has a "William M. Jr" listed on the web page. I suppose that is WM II. Surprisingly low price for a maker who supplied a player like Primrose.

[Dwight Brown]

After thinking about it wouldn't Philip Kass be the person who would know things?

https://www.philipjkass.com

DLB

[Mark Norfleet]

19 hours ago, Dwight Brown said:

After thinking about it wouldn't Philip Kass be the person who would know things?

https://www.philipjkass.com

DLB

Most definitely.

[Mansfield Piggot]

On 5/15/2026 at 8:08 PM, deans said:

Maybe contact Fred Oster, he should know who produced what. He has a "William M. Jr" listed on the web page. I suppose that is WM II. Surprisingly low price for a maker who supplied a player like Primrose.

Checking it out just how, I noticed he won't ship violins worth more than $1000!